Obnoxious Odor Has Residents Pointing Fingers 8-02-2010

First a foul odor was causing a stink in Saginaw and now people are turning up their noses in Genesee County.Viewers have been writing and calling WNEM TV5, telling us the smell is so bad, it's making people sick.People who TV5's Liz Gelardi spoke with wanted to know what smelled so bad in Burton.The complaints came from the area of Fenton and Bristol roads, where there's a Porta John business.Many people thought the smell was coming from the toilets, but not so fast.TV5 spoke with the owner, who said a nearby pump station is the cause.Well, they see portable toilets and they understand what they are and they smell them and thats it, said Gene Goulet, with Alert Sewer Company. You can walk into any of those, I just hosed them down cause theyre going out tomorrow. These are all sitting here empty.Even if it's the source of the smell, everyone TV5 talked to can agree on one thing -- sometimes the smell is downright unpleasant.Like, the worst sewer backup youve ever smelt in your life, said Burton Resident Dianna Stroud. Its very overpowering; itll take your breath away, make your eyes water and make you sick.Genesee County oversees the pump station, but it seems no one wants to take the blame because a representative there said he doesn't believe that's where the smell is coming from.While no one knows exactly what the origins of several Mid-Michigan mystery smells are, it could be all the hot and humid weather the state has experienced lately.

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle and former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva (78) stands outside the tunnel alone during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be on the field during the national anthem for next weekend's game against the Baltimore Ravens.